AN INTERESTING CAREER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22955, 10 August 1936, Page 2

AN INTERESTING CAREER

MR BROWNING MUMMERY IN DUNEDIN PRAISE FOR BROADCASTING SERVICE “ The broadcasting service in New Zealand is truly excellent and listeners should be well satisfied with the programmes presented,” remarked Mr Browning Mummery to a Daily Times reporter on Saturday. “ The Dominion studios are much better than those of the Australian stations, with the exception, perhaps, of the ones in Adelaide, In Auckland the studio is particularly well-equipped, both from an acoustic and an artistic point of view. I think the idea of classifying the programmes from the national stations is an excellent one," he remarked, “ as it gives the listener a chance to tune in to various types of programme at set times. The programmes are attractively varied and the listener is well-served from every point of view.” It is interesting to note that Mr Mummery, who is recognised as one of the most experienced radio broadcasting tenors in the world, first gained success in New Zealand 16 years ago. In 1920 he toured the Dominion with the J. C. Williamson Opera Company and appeared in minor roles in such operas as “ Romeo and Juliet ” and “ Carmen.” His chance came in Auckland, where he was given an important part in an opera, and from that time he has gone on from success to success. After the New Zealand tour he went to England' and was engaged by the British National Opera Company, the most important company in England at that time. He toured all over England and Scotland and took part in international presentations at Covent Garden. One of his most memorable engagements was when he sang in the farewell performance to Melba before King George and Queen Mary. In 1928, he went to Australia with Melba and remained in the Commonwealth for some time before going to America where he was engaged by the National Broadcasting Corporation in New York for two years and a-half, and toured all over the States. Mr Mummery later returned to London, where he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera Company. One of his most interesting engagements was in the much-talked-of film “ Evensong,” the screen version of Beverley Nichols’s book, which caused so much discussion in Australia. He took the tenor part in this picture, which was shown in Dunedin some months ago. Mr Mummery feels that he has earned a rest, for he has had eight months’ continuous singing this year. He has been under engagement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and for six months toured all over the Commonwealth before coming to New Zealand to appear before a microphone under contract to the National Broadcasting Service. What he had seen of New Zealand, he remarked, had impressed him greatly. He and Mrs Mummery thought it a wonderful country, and when his present engagement expired on August 23 they intended going on a leisurely motor tour of the West Coast.